Every year, Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal hosts a lucrative talkfest in San Diego. Here’s the official description of the venue.

D: All Things Digital is once again being held at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara, just 30 minutes north of San Diego. All sessions and activities are taking place at the Four Seasons, and D5 has a complete buy-out of the property for maximum use of the resort’s facilities and grounds.

Southern California’s finest resort experience, the Four Seasons offers casual elegance in a breathtaking location that is accented by wildlife and wildflowers. Guests of the resort enjoy the elegance and legendary service of the Four Seasons in an unequalled setting, featuring spacious guest rooms, an Arnold Palmer signature golf course, six floodlit tennis courts, a luxurious spa and expansive fitness center, Family Pool and Quiet Pool areas with deck side whirlpools and the area’s top dining choices…

Er, pass the sickbag, Alice.

GMSV has a nice passing swipe at the pretentiousness of it all.

It may not be the cage match of your fantasies, but Steve Jobs and Bill Gates will take the stage together tomorrow at the D: All Things Digital conference, despite scientists’ worries that the density of their combined egos could open a rift in the space-time continuum.

There’s something uniquely nauseating about the top end of the US technology industry.

Later… Which reminds me, Ken Auletta wrote a typically uncritical, admiring profile of Mossberg in the New Yorker. When journalists become the story, the game’s over.